Strasbourg, 27/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - Unanimously adopting a resolution on Thursday on the Philippines, the European Parliament expressed grave concern at the growing number of politically motivated killings in the country, as well as the general human rights situation. The local human rights organisation Karapatan has recorded 180 forced disappearances and over 800 killings, most of them by unidentified gunmen, since 2001. Most of those killed, such as opposition party leaders, church people, community leaders, peasants, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists and trade unionists, have been accused by the government of being front organisations for illegal armed groups and 'terrorists'. The MEPs believe that the 'adoption of the Human Security Act 2007, which will enter into force in July 2007, is liable to further increase the incidence of human rights violations by the security forces because it will allow arrest without warrant and arbitrary detention.' The EP welcomes the signing by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of legislation abolishing the death penalty, but says the climate of impunity in the Philippines 'has a corrosive impact on public confidence in the rule of law'. (ab)
______________